Philadelphia Union unveil uniform

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The Union jersey will feature a flag and motto.
The Union jersey will feature a flag and motto.
The Philadelphia Union soccer team will wear a dark blue jersey with gold stripes on the shoulders and a big, vertical gold bar down the chest.

The team, which starts play next year, released the first images of its jersey yesterday. The shirt has the team logo in the center of the chest, an American flag on the left sleeve and the Major League Soccer logo on the right.

On the back of the collar is the legend, "JUNGITE aut PERITE," which is Latin for, "Join or die," the phrase on the famous Ben Franklin political cartoon that urged Colonial unity.

"It's awesome," team president Tom Veit said yesterday. "When you see our jersey, when you see the Philadelphia Union on the field, you'll know it's the Philadelphia Union. Our jersey is unique."

The new shirt does not bear the logo of a business sponsor, common to overseas teams and to more and more MLS clubs. Veit said the Union is working out arrangements so that once a sponsor is secured, fans can bring in their "blank" jerseys to have the logo attached.

The Union will play their first game against the Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field on March 25. That game will start the MLS season. Delays in building a new stadium in Chester caused the site of the team's first home game to be moved to Lincoln Financial Field. That game is set for 3 p.m. April 10 against D.C. United.


Contact staff writer Jeff Gammage at 215-854-2415 or jgammage@phillynews.com.

14
Comments   
Posted 08:12 AM, 11/14/2009
burholme
Will the union not play whenever septa or someone is on strike?
Posted 08:25 AM, 11/14/2009
looper121
Jersey looks great! Buying one as soon as they are on sale.
Posted 09:48 AM, 11/14/2009
jeff518
Great looking jersey, interested to see who the jersey sponsor will be.
Posted 10:12 AM, 11/14/2009
rbpeeple
On the front, they should have a photo of 3 union members installing an electrical outlet.
Posted 11:03 AM, 11/14/2009
JohnKelemen
Soccer? What's soccer? The article seems to suggest its a sport, an athletic competition with action, speed, some violence and scoring opportunities. That can't be, though.
Posted 11:06 AM, 11/14/2009
idempotent
looking forward to the season ... let's go union!
Posted 11:06 AM, 11/14/2009
BushisGood
Rush Limbaugh should sponsor the team. Of couse the stadium is not ready. Union bilking, oops built.
Posted 11:13 AM, 11/14/2009
MadMartin
Are they going to stop for a coffee break 15 minutes in to the game? Maybe at halftime they'll all go to the bar and come back 2 hours later too drunk to be able to play. With a name like that, dont't expect much from them.
Posted 11:16 AM, 11/14/2009
Bobphxville
John - If you don't think soccer is a competition with action, speed, some violence and scoring opportunities, you have never watched soccer.
Posted 11:44 AM, 11/14/2009
AlVen
five guys screwing in a light bulb would be an interesting mascot
Posted 11:50 AM, 11/14/2009
AlVen
But the jersey looks nice, im gonna buy one and play baseball in it
Posted 12:02 PM, 11/14/2009
mikemimbs
Ouch, don't know how this turned into a union whack-a-mole post. Don't let the clowns at SEPTA give all unions a bad name. My dad has been working overtime (we're talking 10-hour days) in the sheet metal industry for 30 years and without his union, he would've never been able to afford full medical/dental/vision coverage for me and my mom, not to mention put me through private high school and college. Don't let some of the more ridiculous unions out there give all unions a bad name.
Posted 01:34 PM, 11/14/2009
Momus
First of all, the team name has nothing to do with labor unions. Also, if you have any doubt about the popularity of soccer in this region you should know this team has already drawn 3 times as many season tickets as the sixers and will likely outdraw that disaster of a franchise for the rest of the length of Brand's contract. You can bank on that.
Posted 07:36 PM, 11/15/2009
gfunkerror
mikemimbs don't let the jealous and the lazy who will not organize bother you my friend. One thing for sure about the Unions, even SEPTA's, is the fact they work for what is fair while other are to weak minded to stand up against employers. They are cowards. What is even funnier these idiots can't separate or bother to find out what the team name represents. Again another example of how lazy they are. Besides, we earn the weekends. They just take advantage.
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